[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S298-S299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET RULES OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate requires each committee to adopt rules to 
govern the procedure of the committee and to publish those rules in the 
Congressional Record not later than March 1 of the first year of each 
Congress. Today, the Committee on the Budget adopted committee rules of 
procedure.
  Consistent with Standing Rule XXVI, I ask unanimous consent to have a 
copy of the rules of procedure of the Committee on the Budget printed 
in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

   COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET, U.S. SENATE--RULES FOR THE 118TH CONGRESS

                           Rules of Procedure


                              I. MEETINGS

       (1) Meeting Schedule. The committee shall hold its regular 
     meeting on the first Thursday of each month. Additional 
     meetings may be called by the chair as the chair deems 
     necessary to expedite committee business.
       (2) Open to the Public. Each meeting of the committee, 
     including meetings to conduct hearings, shall be open to the 
     public, except that a portion or portions of any such meeting 
     may be closed to the public if the committee determines by 
     record vote in open session of a majority of the members of 
     the committee present that the matters to be discussed or the 
     testimony to be taken at such portion or portions--
       (a) will disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in 
     the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct 
     of the foreign relations of the United States;
       (b) will relate solely to matters of the committee staff 
     personnel or internal staff management or procedure;
       (c) will tend to charge an individual with crime or 
     misconduct, to disgrace or injure the professional standing 
     of an individual, or otherwise to expose an individual to 
     public contempt or obloquy, or will represent a clearly 
     unwarranted invasion of the privacy of an individual;
       (d) will disclose the identity of any informer or law 
     enforcement agent or will disclose any information relating 
     to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense 
     that is required to be kept secret in the interests of 
     effective law enforcement;
       (e) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets 
     or financial or commercial information pertaining 
     specifically to a given person if--
       (i) an act of Congress requires the information to be kept 
     confidential by Government officers and employees; or
       (ii) the information has been obtained by the Government on 
     a confidential basis, other than through an application by 
     such person for a specific Government financial or other 
     benefit, and is required to be kept secret in order to 
     prevent undue injury to the competitive position of such 
     person; or
       (f) may divulge matters required to be kept confidential 
     under other provisions of law or Government regulations.

[[Page S299]]

       (3) Notice. Notice of, and the agenda for, any business 
     meeting or markup shall be provided to each member and made 
     available to the public at least 72 hours prior to such 
     meeting or markup.


                II. CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET RESOLUTIONS

       (1) Amendment Consideration Generally. If the chair of the 
     committee makes proposed legislative text of a budget 
     resolution available to all committee members by 12:00 p.m., 
     five days prior to the start of a meeting or markup to 
     consider the resolution, during that meeting or markup:
       (a) it shall not be in order to consider a first degree 
     amendment unless the amendment has been submitted to the 
     chief clerk by 5:00 p.m. two days prior to the start of the 
     meeting or markup, except that an amendment in the nature of 
     a substitute offered by the chair of the committee shall not 
     be required to be filed in advance;
       (b) it shall not be in order to consider a second degree 
     amendment unless the amendment has been submitted to the 
     chief clerk by 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the start of the 
     meeting or markup; and
       (c) it shall not be in order to consider a side-by-side 
     amendment unless the amendment has been submitted to the 
     chief clerk by 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the start of the 
     meeting or markup, and the amendment is filed in relation to 
     a particular first degree amendment that is considered by the 
     committee.
       (2) Amendments with No Force or Effect. During 
     consideration of a budget resolution, it shall not be in 
     order to consider an amendment that would have no force or 
     effect if adopted.


                       III. ORDER OF RECOGNITION

       Those members who are present at the start of any meeting 
     of the committee including meetings to conduct hearings, 
     shall be recognized in order of seniority based on time 
     served as a member of the committee. Any members arriving 
     after the start of the meeting shall be recognized, in order 
     of appearance, after the most junior member.


                         IV. QUORUMS AND VOTING

       (1) Definition of Quorum. Except as provided in paragraphs 
     (2) and (3) of this section, a quorum for the transaction of 
     committee business shall consist of not less than one-third 
     of the membership of the entire committee: Provided, that 
     proxies shall not be counted in making a quorum.
       (2) Reporting. A majority of the committee shall constitute 
     a quorum for reporting budget resolutions, legislative 
     measures, or recommendations: Provided, that proxies shall 
     not be counted in making a quorum.
       (3) Testimony. For the purpose of taking sworn or unsworn 
     testimony, a quorum of the committee shall consist of one 
     Senator.
       (4) Polling Authority. (a) The committee may poll--
       (i) internal committee matters including those concerning 
     the committee's staff, records, and budget;
       (ii) steps in an investigation, including issuance of 
     subpoenas, applications for immunity orders, and requests for 
     documents from agencies; and
       (iii) other committee business that the committee has 
     designated for polling at a meeting, except that the 
     committee may not vote by poll on reporting to the Senate any 
     measure, matter, or recommendation, and may not vote by poll 
     on closing a meeting or hearing to the public.
       (b) To conduct a poll, the chair shall circulate polling 
     sheets to each member specifying the matter being polled and 
     the time limit for completion of the poll. If any member 
     requests, the matter shall be held for a meeting rather than 
     being polled. The chief clerk shall keep a record of polls; 
     if the committee determines by record vote in open session of 
     a majority of the members of the committee present that the 
     polled matter is one of those enumerated in Committee on the 
     Budget Rules of Procedure I(2)(a)-(f), then the record of the 
     poll shall be confidential. Any member may move at the 
     committee meeting following a poll for a vote on the polled 
     decision.


                               V. PROXIES

       When a record vote is taken in the committee on any bill, 
     resolution, amendment, or any other question, a quorum being 
     present, a member who is unable to attend the meeting may 
     vote by proxy if the absent member has been informed of the 
     matter on which the vote is being recorded and has 
     affirmatively requested to be so recorded; except that no 
     member may vote by proxy during the deliberations on budget 
     resolutions unless a member is experiencing a health issue 
     and the chair and ranking member agree to allow that member 
     to vote by proxy on amendments to a budget resolution.


                  VI. HEARINGS AND HEARING PROCEDURES

       (1) Notice. The committee shall make public announcement of 
     the date, place, time, and subject matter of any hearing to 
     be conducted on any measure or matter at least 1 week in 
     advance of such hearing, unless the chair and ranking member 
     determine that there is good cause to begin such hearing at 
     an earlier date.
       (2) Witness Testimony Deadline. At least 24 hours prior to 
     the scheduled start time of the hearing, a witness appearing 
     before the committee shall file a written statement of 
     proposed testimony, including visual exhibits intended for 
     display during testimony, with the chief clerk who is 
     responsible for circulating the proposed testimony to all 
     members at the same time. The requirement that a witness 
     submit testimony 24 hours prior to a hearing may be waived by 
     the chair and the ranking member, following their 
     determination that there is good cause for the failure of 
     compliance.
       (3) Witness Testimony Time Limit. Oral statements of 
     witnesses shall be based upon their filed statements but 
     shall be limited to 5 minutes duration. This period may be 
     limited or extended at the discretion of the chair presiding 
     at the hearings.


                         VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS

       (1) Report Generally. When the committee has ordered a 
     measure or recommendation reported, following final action, 
     the report thereon shall be filed in the Senate at the 
     earliest practicable time.
       (2) Supplemental Report. A member of the committee, who 
     gives notice of an intention to file supplemental, minority, 
     or additional views at the time of final committee approval 
     of a measure or matter, shall be entitled to not less than 3 
     calendar days in which to file such views, in writing, with 
     the chief clerk of the committee. Such views shall then be 
     included in the committee report and printed in the same 
     volume, as a part thereof, and their inclusions shall be 
     noted on the cover of the report. In the absence of timely 
     notice, the committee report may be filed and printed 
     immediately without such views.


              VIII. USE OF DISPLAY MATERIALS IN COMMITTEE

       Committee members may use the electronic display system 
     provided in the committee hearing room or physical graphic 
     displays during any meetings or hearings of the committee. 
     Physical graphic displays are limited to the following: 
     Charts, photographs, or renderings:
       Size: no larger than 36 inches by 48 inches.
       Where: on an easel stand next to the member's seat or at 
     the rear of the committee room.
       When: only at the time the member is speaking.
       Number: no more than two may be displayed at a time.


               IX. CONFIRMATION STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES

       (1) Standards. In considering a nomination, the committee 
     shall inquire into the nominee's experience, qualifications, 
     suitability, and integrity to serve in the position to which 
     he or she has been nominated. The committee shall recommend 
     confirmation if it finds that the nominee has the necessary 
     integrity and is affirmatively qualified by reason of 
     training, education, or experience to carry out the functions 
     of the office to which he or she was nominated.
       (2) Information Concerning the Nominee. Each nominee shall 
     submit the following information to the chief clerk, who will 
     distribute to the chair and ranking member at the same time:
       (a) A detailed biographical resume which contains 
     information concerning education, employment, and background 
     which generally relates to the position to which the 
     individual is nominated, and which is to be made public;
       (b) Information concerning financial and other background 
     of the nominee which is to be made public; provided, that 
     financial information that does not relate to the nominee's 
     qualifications to hold the position to which the individual 
     is nominated, tax returns or reports prepared by federal 
     agencies that may be submitted by the nominee shall, after 
     review by the chair, ranking member, or any other member of 
     the committee upon request, be maintained in a manner to 
     ensure confidentiality; and
       (c) Copies of other relevant documents and responses to 
     questions as the committee may so request, such as responses 
     to questions concerning the policies and programs the nominee 
     intends to pursue upon taking office.
       (3) Report on the Nominee. After a review of all 
     information pertinent to the nomination, a confidential 
     report on the nominee may be prepared by the committee staff 
     for the chair, the ranking member, and, upon request, for any 
     other member of the committee. The report shall summarize the 
     steps taken and the results of the committee inquiry, 
     including any unresolved matters that have been raised during 
     the course of the inquiry.
       (4) Hearings. The committee shall conduct a hearing during 
     which the nominee shall be called to testify under oath on 
     all matters relating to the nominee's suitability for office, 
     including the policies and programs which the nominee would 
     pursue while in that position. No hearing or meeting to 
     consider the confirmation shall be held until at least 72 
     hours after the following events have occurred: the nominee 
     has responded to the requirements set forth in subsection 
     (2), and, if a report described in subsection (3) has been 
     prepared, it has been presented to the chair and ranking 
     member, and is available to other members of the committee, 
     upon request.

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